tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28151839981367043352024-03-14T07:26:28.187-07:00History Of BrandsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-33745988419486841312012-12-07T03:46:00.010-08:002012-12-07T03:46:42.259-08:00Establish graphic standards<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3. Establish graphic standards. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s1600/JesusOnCross.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s200/JesusOnCross.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Early Christianity used more than a couple of symbols. Emperor
Constantine saw a vision of the Chi Rho (the first two letters of Christ
in Greek). which inspired him to take up God's standard and spread the
church across the known world. The fish is a popular sign even today.
But very early on it was code among a persecuted people. Eventually,
Christianity settled on the cross as reminder to the faithful of
Christ's sacrifice for all sins, and a death from which Jesus rose. This
remains the most common Christian symbol today.<br />
<br />
4. Implement internal branding programs to reward employees for behaving in ways that are consistent with the brand personality.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is where things get sticky in Christianity. Early Christianity was
more "advential" in that they truly believed the risen Jesus would
return any moment. Plus there were the persecutions. So early Christians
endured and sacrificed—walking paths not wholly dissimilar to
Christ's. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then there is the less pleasant period of the Church when it becomes
less about the divine and more about the corruption of power—the heretic
trials, inquisitions, Crusades, and the suppression of knowledge. The
reward for good behavior, as prescribed by church authority, was that
you wouldn't be skinned alive, boiled, flogged, or some such unpleasant
treatment. If so, then you were being purified for Heaven. You're
welcome!</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
However, the real incentive for living a life in the footsteps of Jesus are in his root message: </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Heaven awaits those who follow in Christ's footsteps.</i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stated another way: "<i>The way to the Father is through me.</i>"</blockquote>
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
Christ was most certainly consistent in his behavior. And his message for following the brand was direct and simple: </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-54175537580326827932012-12-07T03:46:00.007-08:002012-12-07T03:46:25.268-08:00Everlasting 1235<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3. Establish graphic standards. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s1600/JesusOnCross.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s200/JesusOnCross.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Early Christianity used more than a couple of symbols. Emperor
Constantine saw a vision of the Chi Rho (the first two letters of Christ
in Greek). which inspired him to take up God's standard and spread the
church across the known world. The fish is a popular sign even today.
But very early on it was code among a persecuted people. Eventually,
Christianity settled on the cross as reminder to the faithful of
Christ's sacrifice for all sins, and a death from which Jesus rose. This
remains the most common Christian symbol today.<br />
<br />
4. Implement internal branding programs to reward employees for behaving in ways that are consistent with the brand personality.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is where things get sticky in Christianity. Early Christianity was
more "advential" in that they truly believed the risen Jesus would
return any moment. Plus there were the persecutions. So early Christians
endured and sacrificed—walking paths not wholly dissimilar to
Christ's. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then there is the less pleasant period of the Church when it becomes
less about the divine and more about the corruption of power—the heretic
trials, inquisitions, Crusades, and the suppression of knowledge. The
reward for good behavior, as prescribed by church authority, was that
you wouldn't be skinned alive, boiled, flogged, or some such unpleasant
treatment. If so, then you were being purified for Heaven. You're
welcome!</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
However, the real incentive for living a life in the footsteps of Jesus are in his root message: </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Heaven awaits those who follow in Christ's footsteps.</i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stated another way: "<i>The way to the Father is through me.</i>"</blockquote>
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
Christ was most certainly consistent in his behavior. And his message for following the brand was direct and simple: </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-80474351892595447582012-12-07T03:46:00.005-08:002012-12-07T03:46:23.137-08:00Everlasting 1235<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3. Establish graphic standards. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s1600/JesusOnCross.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s200/JesusOnCross.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Early Christianity used more than a couple of symbols. Emperor
Constantine saw a vision of the Chi Rho (the first two letters of Christ
in Greek). which inspired him to take up God's standard and spread the
church across the known world. The fish is a popular sign even today.
But very early on it was code among a persecuted people. Eventually,
Christianity settled on the cross as reminder to the faithful of
Christ's sacrifice for all sins, and a death from which Jesus rose. This
remains the most common Christian symbol today.<br />
<br />
4. Implement internal branding programs to reward employees for behaving in ways that are consistent with the brand personality.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is where things get sticky in Christianity. Early Christianity was
more "advential" in that they truly believed the risen Jesus would
return any moment. Plus there were the persecutions. So early Christians
endured and sacrificed—walking paths not wholly dissimilar to
Christ's. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then there is the less pleasant period of the Church when it becomes
less about the divine and more about the corruption of power—the heretic
trials, inquisitions, Crusades, and the suppression of knowledge. The
reward for good behavior, as prescribed by church authority, was that
you wouldn't be skinned alive, boiled, flogged, or some such unpleasant
treatment. If so, then you were being purified for Heaven. You're
welcome!</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
However, the real incentive for living a life in the footsteps of Jesus are in his root message: </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Heaven awaits those who follow in Christ's footsteps.</i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stated another way: "<i>The way to the Father is through me.</i>"</blockquote>
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
Christ was most certainly consistent in his behavior. And his message for following the brand was direct and simple: </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-15967644868621259992012-12-07T03:46:00.003-08:002012-12-07T03:46:10.719-08:00Everlasting 1235<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3. Establish graphic standards. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s1600/JesusOnCross.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s200/JesusOnCross.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Early Christianity used more than a couple of symbols. Emperor
Constantine saw a vision of the Chi Rho (the first two letters of Christ
in Greek). which inspired him to take up God's standard and spread the
church across the known world. The fish is a popular sign even today.
But very early on it was code among a persecuted people. Eventually,
Christianity settled on the cross as reminder to the faithful of
Christ's sacrifice for all sins, and a death from which Jesus rose. This
remains the most common Christian symbol today.<br />
<br />
4. Implement internal branding programs to reward employees for behaving in ways that are consistent with the brand personality.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is where things get sticky in Christianity. Early Christianity was
more "advential" in that they truly believed the risen Jesus would
return any moment. Plus there were the persecutions. So early Christians
endured and sacrificed—walking paths not wholly dissimilar to
Christ's. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then there is the less pleasant period of the Church when it becomes
less about the divine and more about the corruption of power—the heretic
trials, inquisitions, Crusades, and the suppression of knowledge. The
reward for good behavior, as prescribed by church authority, was that
you wouldn't be skinned alive, boiled, flogged, or some such unpleasant
treatment. If so, then you were being purified for Heaven. You're
welcome!</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
However, the real incentive for living a life in the footsteps of Jesus are in his root message: </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Heaven awaits those who follow in Christ's footsteps.</i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stated another way: "<i>The way to the Father is through me.</i>"</blockquote>
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
Christ was most certainly consistent in his behavior. And his message for following the brand was direct and simple: </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-59186605301722988332012-12-07T03:46:00.001-08:002012-12-07T03:46:00.572-08:00Everlasting 1235<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3. Establish graphic standards. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s1600/JesusOnCross.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s200/JesusOnCross.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Early Christianity used more than a couple of symbols. Emperor
Constantine saw a vision of the Chi Rho (the first two letters of Christ
in Greek). which inspired him to take up God's standard and spread the
church across the known world. The fish is a popular sign even today.
But very early on it was code among a persecuted people. Eventually,
Christianity settled on the cross as reminder to the faithful of
Christ's sacrifice for all sins, and a death from which Jesus rose. This
remains the most common Christian symbol today.<br />
<br />
4. Implement internal branding programs to reward employees for behaving in ways that are consistent with the brand personality.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is where things get sticky in Christianity. Early Christianity was
more "advential" in that they truly believed the risen Jesus would
return any moment. Plus there were the persecutions. So early Christians
endured and sacrificed—walking paths not wholly dissimilar to
Christ's. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then there is the less pleasant period of the Church when it becomes
less about the divine and more about the corruption of power—the heretic
trials, inquisitions, Crusades, and the suppression of knowledge. The
reward for good behavior, as prescribed by church authority, was that
you wouldn't be skinned alive, boiled, flogged, or some such unpleasant
treatment. If so, then you were being purified for Heaven. You're
welcome!</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
However, the real incentive for living a life in the footsteps of Jesus are in his root message: </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Heaven awaits those who follow in Christ's footsteps.</i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stated another way: "<i>The way to the Father is through me.</i>"</blockquote>
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
Christ was most certainly consistent in his behavior. And his message for following the brand was direct and simple: </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-47647583741205901882012-12-07T03:45:00.008-08:002012-12-07T03:45:58.103-08:00Everlasting 1235<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3. Establish graphic standards. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s1600/JesusOnCross.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s200/JesusOnCross.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Early Christianity used more than a couple of symbols. Emperor
Constantine saw a vision of the Chi Rho (the first two letters of Christ
in Greek). which inspired him to take up God's standard and spread the
church across the known world. The fish is a popular sign even today.
But very early on it was code among a persecuted people. Eventually,
Christianity settled on the cross as reminder to the faithful of
Christ's sacrifice for all sins, and a death from which Jesus rose. This
remains the most common Christian symbol today.<br />
<br />
4. Implement internal branding programs to reward employees for behaving in ways that are consistent with the brand personality.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is where things get sticky in Christianity. Early Christianity was
more "advential" in that they truly believed the risen Jesus would
return any moment. Plus there were the persecutions. So early Christians
endured and sacrificed—walking paths not wholly dissimilar to
Christ's. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then there is the less pleasant period of the Church when it becomes
less about the divine and more about the corruption of power—the heretic
trials, inquisitions, Crusades, and the suppression of knowledge. The
reward for good behavior, as prescribed by church authority, was that
you wouldn't be skinned alive, boiled, flogged, or some such unpleasant
treatment. If so, then you were being purified for Heaven. You're
welcome!</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
However, the real incentive for living a life in the footsteps of Jesus are in his root message: </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Heaven awaits those who follow in Christ's footsteps.</i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stated another way: "<i>The way to the Father is through me.</i>"</blockquote>
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
Christ was most certainly consistent in his behavior. And his message for following the brand was direct and simple: </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-74826207302315032742012-12-07T03:45:00.006-08:002012-12-07T03:45:39.481-08:00Everlastingg on the floor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3. Establish graphic standards. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s1600/JesusOnCross.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s200/JesusOnCross.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Early Christianity used more than a couple of symbols. Emperor
Constantine saw a vision of the Chi Rho (the first two letters of Christ
in Greek). which inspired him to take up God's standard and spread the
church across the known world. The fish is a popular sign even today.
But very early on it was code among a persecuted people. Eventually,
Christianity settled on the cross as reminder to the faithful of
Christ's sacrifice for all sins, and a death from which Jesus rose. This
remains the most common Christian symbol today.<br />
<br />
4. Implement internal branding programs to reward employees for behaving in ways that are consistent with the brand personality.<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-43662299517397365112012-12-07T03:45:00.004-08:002012-12-07T03:45:23.368-08:00Everlast 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3. Establish graphic standards. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s1600/JesusOnCross.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ijQ81G9C7E/TwUotYQ7ojI/AAAAAAAAARM/wBNB-kHYkn0/s200/JesusOnCross.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Early Christianity used more than a couple of symbols. Emperor
Constantine saw a vision of the Chi Rho (the first two letters of Christ
in Greek). which inspired him to take up God's standard and spread the
church across the known world. The fish is a popular sign even today.
But very early on it was code among a persecuted people. Eventually,
Christianity settled on the cross as reminder to the faithful of
Christ's sacrifice for all sins, and a death from which Jesus rose. This
remains the most common Christian symbol today.<br />
<br />
4. Implement internal branding programs to reward employees for behaving in ways that are consistent with the brand personality.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is where things get sticky in Christianity. Early Christianity was
more "advential" in that they truly believed the risen Jesus would
return any moment. Plus there were the persecutions. So early Christians
endured and sacrificed—walking paths not wholly dissimilar to
Christ's. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then there is the less pleasant period of the Church when it becomes
less about the divine and more about the corruption of power—the heretic
trials, inquisitions, Crusades, and the suppression of knowledge. The
reward for good behavior, as prescribed by church authority, was that
you wouldn't be skinned alive, boiled, flogged, or some such unpleasant
treatment. If so, then you were being purified for Heaven. You're
welcome!</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
However, the real incentive for living a life in the footsteps of Jesus are in his root message: </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Heaven awaits those who follow in Christ's footsteps.</i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stated another way: "<i>The way to the Father is through me.</i>"</blockquote>
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
Christ was most certainly consistent in his behavior. And his message for following the brand was direct and simple: </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-77697596679032366752012-12-07T03:45:00.002-08:002012-12-07T03:45:12.004-08:00Everlast2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zd4lkhSiSMo/TwZejwNnvOI/AAAAAAAAARk/5Qv6Pl9Ydac/s1600/images-1.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zd4lkhSiSMo/TwZejwNnvOI/AAAAAAAAARk/5Qv6Pl9Ydac/s200/images-1.jpeg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold bust of Charlemagne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is during the span of time between Constantine and Charlemagne that
the cross really becomes the standard for Christianity—a reminder of
Christ's sacrifice and Resurrection. By this time the Catholic Church
established itself as the dominant authority on everything from western
politics and society to science and medicine. The cross was on
everything you could affix it to, draw it on, weave it into, or
incorporate into its very making. Biblically speaking, the cross spread
like locusts.<br />
<br />
Christ is an everlasting brand. Even if you set aside the divinity of
Jesus and look at him with a strict historical perspective, it is
accepted fact that he existed. Jesus was a Rabbi … a teacher. And Roman
records confirm that Pontius Pilate crucified him for sedition against
the Empire. His impact is no less than profound. Jesus is even
recognized by other faiths as being at the very least a prophet. These
include Judaism, Islam, and the Bahá'í faiths. It may be an oxymoron,
but Jesus was a conqueror whose weapon was ... forgiveness.<br />
<br />
Therefore, submitted for your approval... <br />
<br />
1. Determine the most appropriate brand-positioning attribute.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Forgiveness and compassion are the leads here. In his life, Jesus was
noted for consorting with social rejects—the unwashed, the tax
collector, and those of questionable reputation. He professed not a God
who favored the rich and powerful, but a Father who loved all His
children and promised a place especially for the meek and the poor.</blockquote>
2. Devise a distinctive way to articulate the brand position and develop
a brand personality customers can use to introduce the brand.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>He died for our sins</i> ... enough said.</blockquote>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-62432455094505631452012-12-07T03:44:00.008-08:002012-12-07T03:44:55.614-08:00Everlast 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cCND_6kTOi0/TwUoV4AQWUI/AAAAAAAAARA/F-HJyYiMhes/s1600/chirho-shield2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cCND_6kTOi0/TwUoV4AQWUI/AAAAAAAAARA/F-HJyYiMhes/s200/chirho-shield2.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roman shield with Chi Rho</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anyway, just before a battle Constantine had a vision of the Christian
symbol, Chi Rho, which convinced him the Christian God was on his side.
His resulting victory in what was thought a hopeless battle inspired
Constantine to lift the persecutions of Christians. And he would spend
an enormous effort for the remainder of his rein in supporting and
spreading the faith.<br />
<br />
Skip about 500 years to the end of the Dark Ages and we get Charlemagne.
He was a conquering emperor—he was French, so go figure. Known then as
Charles I, Charlemagne managed to unite much of Europe. In doing so, and
as a good Medieval Christian (a somewhat disreputable time for the
faith), he forced the Christianization of the Saxons, the Danes, and the
Slavs, while banning their native paganism under threat of painful
death. Charlemagne integrated all these people into his empire, while
simultaneously integrating select pagan traditions into Christianity.
This had the effect of easing brand acceptance by utilizing certain
advantageous elements to further spread the faith.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-11383628873202965552012-12-07T03:44:00.005-08:002012-12-07T03:44:35.770-08:00Everlast 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CRX0S3GVf5k/TwZdn08cgaI/AAAAAAAAARY/3wMI1iH8elU/s1600/images.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CRX0S3GVf5k/TwZdn08cgaI/AAAAAAAAARY/3wMI1iH8elU/s200/images.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emperor Constantine c 302 AD</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are two specific people deserving the lion's share of credit for
Christianity's facebook-like success—Constantine and
Charlemagne. Nothing can pull an underground movement out from the
shadows like state endorsement. Constantine was an early 4th Century
Roman emperor who was responsible for exactly that. Before his rein,
Christians were a persecuted lot. After all Jesus was crucified for
sedition, real or not. And most of the ancient Mediterranean was pagan,
whereas Christianity required reneging on many naughty but potentially
fun elements of paganism. Maybe that's why Constantine waited a very
long time before being baptized.<br />
<br />
On the other side of the condemnation coin was Judaism itself—Jews
didn't care for Christians because most didn't hold that Jesus was the
Messiah, not to mention the fact that Christ's teaching seemingly went
against the Jewish mainstream current. Add to that the whole idea that
gentiles were welcome in the new faith. In other words Jesus went
outside the tribe and Jews didn't appreciate it.<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-87417476926303747432012-12-07T03:44:00.002-08:002012-12-07T03:44:08.630-08:00Everlasting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Strengthening this divine heritage is his very name, underscoring the mission for which prophecy says he was sent. <i>Jesus</i>
is basically translated to mean "Yahweh rescues". And according to the
Gospels of both Luke and Matthew in the New Testament, the angel
Gabriel tells Mary and Joseph to name their child <i>Jesus</i>. The
reason given was "because he will save his people from their sins".
Right from the start this lends a redemptive attribute to Christ. Of
course the title of <i>Christ</i> translates from Greek to mean "the
anointed" and also used to translate the Hebrew term for "Messiah" into
Greek. Combined that set Jesus up to be the <i>Anointed one to deliver salvation</i>.<br />
<br />
<div>
<br />
Jesus has a well-documented life in the New Testament. Christians
obviously put a great deal of trust into the text and it is within these
chronicles of Christ's life, and the very Genesis of Christianity, that
so much of the brand is found. Healing, miracles, firm resistance
against human temptations, as well as the Crucifixion and Resurrection
are hallmarks of Jesus' divine brand. But the more subtle of Christ's
deeds seem to be those that have the most impact.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeBEGs0L1HE/TwUmLcsAZ0I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/V6aLn87AGJo/s1600/images.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeBEGs0L1HE/TwUmLcsAZ0I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/V6aLn87AGJo/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesus calls to Zacchaeus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just in the company he kept, Jesus didn't associate himself with the
upper crust of society. Indeed, his affiliations with those of lesser
status and questionable reputation made him a target.<br />
<br />
One example is the account of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke. Simply
put, Zacchaeus was a tax collector in Jericho—hated by everybody and in
particular by other Jews who saw him as a traitor for working with Rome.
On the day Jesus passed through town, he arrived early along the path
Jesus would take, climbing a sycamore tree. Zacchaeus was a short man
and would have difficulty seeing over the crowds. As Jesus passed, he
looked up into the tree and called out to Zacchaeus by name and told him
to come down. Jesus then announced he would visit his house, sending
the crowd into shock that Jesus would associate himself such a low sort.<br />
<br />
But so moved by the gift of Jesus' undeserved love and acceptance,
Zacchaeus publicly repented and vowed to make restitution for them. This
is chief among the attributes of Christ—forgiveness and embracing those
who are not evil but outcast. That's an unusual attitude for the
time—one might argue even for today.<br />
<br />
Adding to the desirability of forgiveness is the idea of an afterlife.
Not all religions have a bright future for our souls. In some we are
reincarnated, doomed to relive this life until we miraculously figure
out how to behave in order to move on. In others there are several
levels of Heaven or Hell—sounds more corporate than ethereal. And still
others believe there is nothing beyond this life at all. So a Kingdom of
Heaven can really resonate if you ain't tickled with the status quo.<br />
</div>
But the deeds of Christ, including his Resurrection, were only the
beginning of the Christian brand. Although let's face it, Resurrection
is major since that means death can be defeated, further reinforcing
that afterlife thing. Still, Christ's life was the foundation—the rock
on which the church was built. From there it spread across the ancient
western and near eastern worlds like the original social media.<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-782011753749709392012-12-07T03:43:00.007-08:002012-12-07T03:43:51.551-08:00Everlasts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><div class="post-header">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EjheTGNY2so/TwUlGZM-klI/AAAAAAAAAQo/3BT4cT1lhqQ/s1600/Epiphany-sm.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EjheTGNY2so/TwUlGZM-klI/AAAAAAAAAQo/3BT4cT1lhqQ/s320/Epiphany-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three kings visit the Nativity.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On this eve of the Epiphany—the Christian celebration commemorating the
revelation of God the Son as a human being in the Christ Child—we
explore the brand that is Christianity. Controversial, enduring,
inspiring, and even misappropriated—Christianity is the faith in the
life, teachings and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And for more than two
millennia, this brand has persisted in its evolution and command of
brand loyalty. <br />
<br />
At the core of the Christian brand is Christ himself, Jesus of Nazareth
and Son of God. Christians profess their faith that Jesus was born of a
virgin, died for the forgiveness of human sin, rose from the dead and
ascended into Heaven to later return for judgment day. Those are strong
attributes—meaningful to the faithful then and now. And while being born
of a virgin is not unique in the history of religious faiths, it
provided Jesus with divine DNA from God the Father.<br />
<div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-54046537107890844882012-12-07T03:43:00.003-08:002012-12-07T03:43:14.791-08:00Bigger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
Just a little big(ger)...
</h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
commercial for Geico depicts Abraham Lincoln, the husband, with what is
arguably the most treacherous question ever put to any married man.
"Does this dress make my backside look big?" Wrapped in a pregnant
pause, he struggles against his own compulsion toward honesty, resisting
the painful and obvious answer, making this spot a beautifully humorous
capture of the man and his brand promise. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Quite a bit of myth surrounds Lincoln, including endless commentaries
describing Lincoln as a frontier gentleman. He was also characterized as
"Father Abraham," the guardian of Federalist authority and humble
defender of the weak. Yet, to the South and a few modern critics,
Lincoln was the evil (pronounced ee-v-il) slayer of liberty and states'
rights, and the father of the dominant national state.<br />
<br />
Inextricably bound to the Lincoln brand is the Civil War–America's epic
4-year clash between the North and the South over the afore-mentioned
issue of Unionism and state sovereignty. However, the real catapult for
Abraham Lincoln into immortality was his assassination on 15 April 1865.
Not so much now, but at the time it made him a martyr. He was shot on
Good Friday, and died the next day, making him Christ-like to many.<br />
<br />
Today, Lincoln is sometimes underestimated in our portrayals of him.
Part of the Lincoln legend is that he wasn't a very successful lawyer.
That's simply not true. Yes, Lincoln was a self-taught prairie lawyer,
but he was both shrewd and cunning, which earned him a solid reputation.
In fact, the term prairie lawyer was never a rating of his abilities.
Rather, it refers to the fact that Lincoln followed a circuit court as
it made rounds through its jurisdiction. Lincoln did so by horseback or
buggy, traveling hundreds of miles over, well, prairie land, from one
little county seat to another. Although most of the cases and fees were
petty, Lincoln managed to earn up to $1500 per year. Not bad for the
times, and quite comparable to the $1200 the Illinois state governor
might earn.<br />
<br />
Lincoln's law career advanced considerably. Ultimately he argued before
the United States Supreme Court, as well as several times before the
Illinois Supreme Court. Within 20-years of starting his legal career,
Lincoln was well distinguished as a fine and successful lawyer in
Illinois. He was also noted for his practical common sense, which gave
him an out-of the-box view into the heart of cases he argued. And that
helped build his reputation as invariably fair and genuinely honest.</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
brand analysis here might seem undemanding, still it is worth
exploring–especially since Lincoln's birthday is this month. Therefore,
submitted for your approval...</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Determine the most appropriate brand-positioning attribute.</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep
it simple stupid–and rightly so. Honesty is the single attribute that
remains the persistent differentiator throughout the Lincoln era–from
his days on the farm to his rise as an attorney, and his career as
politician, to his final hours as Commander-in-Chief.</span></blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Either
as a lawyer or a politician, his dealings are well documented and
replete with examples of his most famous character trait. He was never
one to over charge a client. In some cases he refused payment when the
client was in dire circumstances. Those things are commonly cited. But
one example is striking because it is a simple admission while he was
president.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lincoln disagreed with General Ulysses S. Grant over strategy at Vicksburg. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contrary to Lincoln's preference, Grant crossed the Mississippi River and turned back to approach Vicksburg from the rear. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grant
was successful, and in a letter of congratulations, Lincoln admitted
his own error. “I feared it was a mistake,” he wrote. “I now wish to
make the personal acknowledgment that you were right, and I was wrong.”</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honesty was his policy.</span></i></blockquote>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Devise a distinctive way to articulate the brand position.</span><br />
<blockquote>
The value proposition with Lincoln was equally simple–trust.
Everything about the man, regardless of his station, was that he was
the real thing. His beginnings made him genuine, hard work earned him
respect, and his beliefs were heartfelt–whether about the survival of
the Union or for personal liberty. You could really trust Lincoln.
That's the ingrained benefit to his honesty attribute.</blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><blockquote>
<i>Trust.</i></blockquote>
</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Develop a focused brand personality that customers can use to recommend or introduce your company to others.</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">History has really done that for us in the legend of <i>Honest Abe</i>.</span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Establish graphic standards.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><blockquote>
On
12 February 1809, Abe Lincoln was indeed born in a one room log
cabin. That image has alone characterized the Lincoln the man. THe
simple log cabin illustrates his humility and the frontiersman ideals
that shaped Lincoln the President.</blockquote>
</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZuORieO8bN2yB9Z-EWE8DMtCarUHC6rQLASaJGsLjNCW97IP1IfETnGhhTIBw_UndztLTX6HBaf4bUs0P-JVwdgHNFiNk8a-RpLLqJUhHK-IwMXtLurQ9PM9-2azZ2_3ajUInFKFCrQ/s1600/Abe-Lincoln-Birthplace-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZuORieO8bN2yB9Z-EWE8DMtCarUHC6rQLASaJGsLjNCW97IP1IfETnGhhTIBw_UndztLTX6HBaf4bUs0P-JVwdgHNFiNk8a-RpLLqJUhHK-IwMXtLurQ9PM9-2azZ2_3ajUInFKFCrQ/s320/Abe-Lincoln-Birthplace-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZuORieO8bN2yB9Z-EWE8DMtCarUHC6rQLASaJGsLjNCW97IP1IfETnGhhTIBw_UndztLTX6HBaf4bUs0P-JVwdgHNFiNk8a-RpLLqJUhHK-IwMXtLurQ9PM9-2azZ2_3ajUInFKFCrQ/s1600/Abe-Lincoln-Birthplace-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times;">
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Footnote:
The popular toy Lincoln Logs are often but mistakenly attributed to
Lincoln. The toy was invented by the son of architect Frank Lloyd
Wright. Lincoln is reference to the architect's given middle name.</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Implement internal branding programs to reward employees for behaving in ways that are consistent with the brand personality.</span></div>
</div>
</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><blockquote>
After
the Union army took Richmond, Virginia in April 1865, President Lincoln
toured the former Confederate capital. Walking the city streets, he was
greeted by dismayed whites, while freed men hailed him as a hero. Most
telling of the man is that when a general asked how the defeated
Confederates should be treated, Lincoln softly replied, "Let 'em up
easy."</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihix7vPdZPocOxn-VrHglTIE-Om9AC9lQDOQ9ZDpvS4ljE5Ka0sq8lZej1cX2EhAPATcdG2nrh9s3PQ_-l0aR7V0EpGX0Pe2La6AY2KDybf6q7pqaP5JdSpIr-MnteTataLOidMd5Zqx0/s1600/Grant.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihix7vPdZPocOxn-VrHglTIE-Om9AC9lQDOQ9ZDpvS4ljE5Ka0sq8lZej1cX2EhAPATcdG2nrh9s3PQ_-l0aR7V0EpGX0Pe2La6AY2KDybf6q7pqaP5JdSpIr-MnteTataLOidMd5Zqx0/s1600/Grant.jpeg" /></a></div>
The
truth of the matter is that Lincoln led by example. And while his
example was attractive to many, the times in which Lincoln lived was a
swirl of conflict. As Commander-in-Chief, Lincoln also bore little
tolerance for failure. Several generals failed in attaining objectives
Lincoln set for them. Ulysses S. Grant would ultimately accomplish
Lincoln's military priorities. As a result, he earned Lincoln's loyalty
and indulgence.</blockquote>
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program. </span><br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lincoln
deeply believed in the United States of America. That is the program he
ascribed to and was so deeply ingrained in who he was. Nothing more
exemplifies his living the brand than the Gettysburg Address. Delivered
at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of 19 November 1863, this brief but
powerful speech lasted three minutes. Consisting of only 272
words–that's just a few paragraphs–Lincoln reinforced the ideals leading
to the birth of our nation, "conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal." </span></blockquote>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><blockquote>
Lincoln
also described the Civil War as a struggle dedicated to the principles
of liberty and equality. And that the deaths of so many brave soldiers
would not be in vain, that slavery must end as a result of such losses,
and that this democracy would be assured for future generation. Finally,
the address provided confirmation from Lincoln that, "government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the
earth." </blockquote>
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Abraham
Lincoln, the brand, only scratches the surface of the deep, rich and
complex story of the actual man. It's easy to dismiss further research
because we <i>think</i> we know all we need to about him. But if
anything, schoolbooks and pop culture should beckon us to drill deeper.
Consider this for a moment: A nation's leader whose total education
consisted of essentially five books, having prepared himself for the bar
by reading just two more books. His military expertise came not from
battle, but from diving into the Library of Congress to absorb military
writings–and while in the middle of a bloody conflict with enemy forces
never very far from his capital.</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-85410828622912329202012-12-07T03:42:00.002-08:002012-12-07T03:42:15.328-08:00 Eye of the Tiger <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
</h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQggep1umrWPriVD9axGxzYObgsR0aQJbXn7ADodH8Jl-j9EnPuu1nEWQnMDB6K2LE-S_xBeA25v1B7T9PPj6TDehjEzqu7DRqOn_IzrKKMA3PwlTxZXvEpbFV-P5OfJdJ0Fx6IueRByU/s1600/p1b.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQggep1umrWPriVD9axGxzYObgsR0aQJbXn7ADodH8Jl-j9EnPuu1nEWQnMDB6K2LE-S_xBeA25v1B7T9PPj6TDehjEzqu7DRqOn_IzrKKMA3PwlTxZXvEpbFV-P5OfJdJ0Fx6IueRByU/s200/p1b.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The Flying Tigers. These shark-faced fighters are still some of the most
recognizable aircraft from World War II, but you may only have heard of
them without really knowing who or what they were. The Flying Tigers
were a crack group of warriors who prowled the skies over China, and
they ripped the Japanese air corps a new one while America still licked
its wounds from losses at Pearl Harbor.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
In essence, they were the bad boys of World War II.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdn9VCPsq-UrDFUGjKG6HisbQzBdNI1q9fqz-_p4_LqEdcEV0zZHSjYvnfIjWUBycdkYeqbaUcPlrnPtHSnHlzLDOSq59CocVVDRDpfiBpt-kmGaTXiabff3_kBKRmwTBs0JxdQ3hkLw/s1600/220px-Chennaultcic.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdn9VCPsq-UrDFUGjKG6HisbQzBdNI1q9fqz-_p4_LqEdcEV0zZHSjYvnfIjWUBycdkYeqbaUcPlrnPtHSnHlzLDOSq59CocVVDRDpfiBpt-kmGaTXiabff3_kBKRmwTBs0JxdQ3hkLw/s200/220px-Chennaultcic.jpg" width="200" /></a>The
official name of the Tigers was actually the 1st American Volunteer
Group, or the AVG, and it was the brainchild of a gruff, hard-pressed
bastard named Claire Chennault. He stomped around the military high
command pressing for better aircraft. And history says he stepped on a
lot of toes doing it. As a result, the Army asked him to resign in April
of 1937. And when Chennault did the Chinese immediately asked him to
assess their pitiful air force and strategy. Three months later, Japan
invaded China, giving Chennault a lot to consider in his assessments.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
By early 1941, Chennault had a solution and, more importantly, the
funding to execute it—which was an instant air force, made up of better
American aircraft and professional American pilots. Some say that then
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt secretly endorsed the plan,
although there is no official record. However, Chennault did manage to
snatch a shipment of Curtiss P-40 Tomahawks originally bound for
Britain's Royal Air Force.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqFYpu3ZsRzamGZX594Hs6_RhhCjn0eUpGMSUI16ZLATdIwo2_8KmqhcFHcDuVRL9TrQUyHI3sFVHlIVTrcPP7ncZUEy86sFBjn239gH7hQXC8UNrX6Vp8GECszrLKe9tmRLo6xhYJdo/s1600/Hells_Angels,_Flying_Tigers_1942.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqFYpu3ZsRzamGZX594Hs6_RhhCjn0eUpGMSUI16ZLATdIwo2_8KmqhcFHcDuVRL9TrQUyHI3sFVHlIVTrcPP7ncZUEy86sFBjn239gH7hQXC8UNrX6Vp8GECszrLKe9tmRLo6xhYJdo/s200/Hells_Angels,_Flying_Tigers_1942.jpg" width="200" /></a>The
P-40 was rugged plane with heavy armor and heavy machine guns. Think
flying tank. The delicate balsa and tin Japanese aircraft were far more
nimble, but the Tigers liked looking the enemy in the eye with head-on
attacks, for which the P-40 was far superior.<br />
<br />
Not only did Chennault scrounge planes, he was also granted official
permission to recruit pilots and ground crew from U.S. forces. That was
Channault's fast-track-methodology to build an experienced fighter
group—cherry-picking American volunteers. He secured 99 pilots and about
200 ground and administrative personnel. And he paid them very
well—triple what the pilots and crews normally got as GIs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Some called the AVG mercenaries because of their pay. Or maybe they were
just really well rewarded for having the cajones to take on what was
considered a highly trained and battle-experienced Japanese air force.
Remember that those planes with the red dot shot everything out of the
Asian skies they came up against. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOErW87Z0WP2vA345YivWa_goYCMIlW-cKEljpqTV913x6Lc0e2ELiZwhlxvsVGdfaaXywRtP31lCtTC5O8iPzPzA8OaYnDhV7T4KGm3JEpmAAiB0TLofKwv_gcgUM5s5g1kpnNBKtizU/s1600/Flying_Tigers_personnel.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOErW87Z0WP2vA345YivWa_goYCMIlW-cKEljpqTV913x6Lc0e2ELiZwhlxvsVGdfaaXywRtP31lCtTC5O8iPzPzA8OaYnDhV7T4KGm3JEpmAAiB0TLofKwv_gcgUM5s5g1kpnNBKtizU/s200/Flying_Tigers_personnel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Most of the AVG organizational build took place in the first nine months
of 1941. You don't just set up shop in a few weeks, especially in
Burma. But by December of '41, the Tigers leapt into the skies. It was
just two weeks after Pearl Harbor when they started hunting on 20
December 1941. The Flying Tigers pounced into action against ten
Japanese bombers heading for a place called Kunming in southwestern
China. This seemingly unknown place was the eastern terminus of the
Burma Road. And the Burma Road was the sole and vital supply route for
military supplies to southern China. The Japanese wanted it gone.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
What the Japanese didn't know was that two squadrons of Curtiss P-40s
had been stationed at Kunming. They bore the 12-pointed Chinese star on
their wings and the now distinctive red-and-white shark’s teeth markings
around their air scoops on the nose. The P-40 was perfect for exactly
that kind of nose-art.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Just as the bombers came in for a run, four P-40s attacked. Startled by
the unexpected resistance, the Japanese literally turned tail and flew
for home—right into a waiting pack of ten more Flying Tigers. The
fighters tore through the bomber formation, knocking down three aircraft
and severely wounding one more. </div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcabNGTs4TxPXv-ttDcY38RxyRdsdkUlqfjLE-h9vVih9PxssN7W4bH1oAILJwxMBLAwTyho-QmYSSIWBDAc15CiKyiaGMUyMl8ghgLbxVS_mJl5EE8ITEJtWTDkE8N3yBTtUCcFTn2Hc/s1600/220px-REB-AVG-CHIT-1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcabNGTs4TxPXv-ttDcY38RxyRdsdkUlqfjLE-h9vVih9PxssN7W4bH1oAILJwxMBLAwTyho-QmYSSIWBDAc15CiKyiaGMUyMl8ghgLbxVS_mJl5EE8ITEJtWTDkE8N3yBTtUCcFTn2Hc/s200/220px-REB-AVG-CHIT-1.jpg" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is called a blood Chit <br />
and was carried by the AVG.<br />
It reads, "This foreign person<br />
has come to China to help in <br />
the war effort. Soldiers and<br />
civilians, one and all, should<br />
rescue and protect him."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Three days later, the AVG engage the Japanese again, this time racking
up 11 confirmed kills with five probables. Just two days after that on
Christmas Day 1941, the Flying Tigers down an amazing 24 more Japanese
aircraft. These were defensive actions. After the first of the year,
1942, the Tigers would go on the offensive and terrorize the Japanese
for another seven months.<br />
<br />
According to Chinese newspaper accounts of those early battles,
"...these American volunteers fight like Tigers, Flying Tigers." Hence
the squadron name. Now, wrapped up in the concept of the Tiger is a
whole lot of Asian cultural equity. Specifically in Japan, the tiger is
the symbol of the Samurai. The tiger also represents the virtue of
courage. And if you really want to get deep, it also means revision,
improvement, change, and the Zen good.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The original AVG Flying Tigers were only active for about 8-months,
through July of 1942. At that point, the US Army Air Corps came in and
absorbed the AVG. While the name continued on through the 23rd Fighter
Group, later commanded by Chennault himself and with a few of the
original AVG pilots, it carved out its own success record. However it
was the tenacity of the original AVG that established the brand presence
and expectation of the <i>Flying Tigers</i>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
Therefore, submitted for your approval...<br />
<br />
1. Determine the most appropriate brand-positioning attribute.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECdj_zY7a4k6KId7phptriMvDB_R2nMES-i7EL5RiJEXfMLnRlfnPVx2vjlcHFjHhzocXtd8fb72Fk07oxkVOPTYdl3ZyZO3Eeur-qAsP9d2ihDgPAvKUtzQzTw_QDdQyzcTjD4GpGtA/s1600/361px-Pappy_Boyington.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECdj_zY7a4k6KId7phptriMvDB_R2nMES-i7EL5RiJEXfMLnRlfnPVx2vjlcHFjHhzocXtd8fb72Fk07oxkVOPTYdl3ZyZO3Eeur-qAsP9d2ihDgPAvKUtzQzTw_QDdQyzcTjD4GpGtA/s200/361px-Pappy_Boyington.jpg" width="150" /></a>The
AVG were a group of hard-playing, hard fighting mavericks—the
inglorious basterds of the air. One of the most famous was Greg "Pappy"
Boyington, well known for being a scrapper, and for living hard. But in
the air, he was even meaner. He would go on to form the famous Black
Sheep squadron. </blockquote>
2. Devise a distinctive way to articulate the brand position.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
While these pilots were animals on the ground, in the air they were
courageous and fierce warriors. They would gladly assault their foe in
head-on attacks. forcing the Japanese to look the tiger in the eye.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Courageous and fierce like tigers.</i></blockquote>
3. Develop a focused brand personality that customers can use to recommend or introduce your company to others.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Thanks to the Chinese news accounts ... "<i>The Flying Tigers"</i></blockquote>
4. Establish graphic standards.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRhAY6XaO4yo96PRjnHkHF8Lq21er6IP1q7i6u_fHCGfBXlp2DmRCks4z3bFfZtzZaC_f-Idwjzo5484MvMMuabewJNCyXeZmEGt9UvfbHxGu4elTFQ1Ya2wsA43Je_0qg1i8hV48lPo/s1600/FlyingTigersLogo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRhAY6XaO4yo96PRjnHkHF8Lq21er6IP1q7i6u_fHCGfBXlp2DmRCks4z3bFfZtzZaC_f-Idwjzo5484MvMMuabewJNCyXeZmEGt9UvfbHxGu4elTFQ1Ya2wsA43Je_0qg1i8hV48lPo/s200/FlyingTigersLogo.jpg" width="200" /></a>Part
One - The actual logo for the Flying Tigers was designed by Walt
Disney, featuring a leaping tiger with small wings. In reality, the
accepted popular look and feel was derived from the natural
characteristics of the Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk. The plane had the ideal
nose cowling for painting a mouth full of teeth. This nose art was
actually of a shark. But those teeth still lent themselves to the maw of
a big cat and became synonymous with the Flying Tigers.</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vLOZJVpVHZkgVsNawWmQlP2qxlaHpZoM9nSWLst4A-EtcZj43nUAmwQoZy5HfHMJa-1ZmJkszZTSPaNmFUOTgbJdCGol_6x1MOaEumTcgjjGNFq2k495QwrxOT7qmXQnAtxePvFQ3Dg/s1600/Flying_tigers_pilot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vLOZJVpVHZkgVsNawWmQlP2qxlaHpZoM9nSWLst4A-EtcZj43nUAmwQoZy5HfHMJa-1ZmJkszZTSPaNmFUOTgbJdCGol_6x1MOaEumTcgjjGNFq2k495QwrxOT7qmXQnAtxePvFQ3Dg/s200/Flying_tigers_pilot.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Part Two: The P-40 was simply a rugged, mean hunk of flying metal. It
was heavily armored around the engine and cockpit. It also carried two
.50 caliber nose guns along with two .303 cal guns in each wing. Quite
frankly, it was just a brute.</blockquote>
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The proof was in the pudding with an 8-month record showing that the
original AVG Flying Tigers were credited with destroying about 130 enemy
aircraft. Losses amounted to only 14 AVG aircraft. This would be the
inspiration when the AVG were rolled into the offical American forces in
August of 1942. </blockquote>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-34692717155811533952012-12-07T03:41:00.007-08:002012-12-07T03:41:53.580-08:00 Spartans are beast! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<br /></h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
Spartans are one of the most enduring and celebrated brands from all of
ancient history. And nothing exemplifies that brand more than their last
stand at Thermopylae, forever carving the Spartan promise into the western mind ... and deservedly so.<br />
<br />
In 480 BC, Greek city-states united for the first time in defense
against a massive Persian army. A Greek force of only 7000 was led by a
mere 300 Spartans – all against an invading army that modern historians
number around 200,000 men. Ancient sources cite more dramatic counts of
more than one million soldiers from all corners of the Persian Empire.
Numerically speaking, I guess 28-to-1 is a helluva lot better than
143-to-1. But from a boots-on-the-ground perspective, it's little like
standing on a sandbar relieved the swelling tsunami is only 30 feet tall
versus 150. But I digress.<br />
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzRo4YUQDB_P9ZSyqFsUBhsk70sfPqhyF-VwgQBMkL-JjGknR55Er8A1JRIjvabs03jLZvah4H5479B5sKePkhx4Zx1XvmLxHTdi6M3FGYHcuqXueJneB1VcRu_UBfmzc0EXfDgZz7es/s1600/300_spartans.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzRo4YUQDB_P9ZSyqFsUBhsk70sfPqhyF-VwgQBMkL-JjGknR55Er8A1JRIjvabs03jLZvah4H5479B5sKePkhx4Zx1XvmLxHTdi6M3FGYHcuqXueJneB1VcRu_UBfmzc0EXfDgZz7es/s320/300_spartans.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The film, 300, was based on Frank Miller's graphic novel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The battle at Thermopylae lasted just a few days with
the Greeks holding fast and inflicting horrendous casualties on the
eastern invaders. To the soldiers of Sparta, this was a battle worthy of
their efforts. No one illustrates this better than the ancient
historian, Herodotus. He recorded that one Greek complained of Persian
archers being so numerous their arrows would black out the sun. To this
the bravest of all Spartans, Dienekes, replied, "Good, then we fight in
the shade."</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
That mindset lends meat to why 6,700 guys were willing to
stand along side the Spartans in the face of very, very, very long odds.
But those odds ran out on day three when a fellow countryman betrayed
the Greeks. Suddenly outflanked by the Persians, and ridiculously
outnumbered, the Spartans remained. Joined by about 1000 fellow Greeks,
they covered the retreat of more than 3500 comrades.</div>
<div>
Here’s how modern historian, Victor Davis Hanson, describes the impact of this event: </div>
<div>
<blockquote>
"So
almost immediately, contemporary Greeks saw Thermopylae as a critical
moral and culture lesson. In universal terms, a small, free people had
willingly outfought huge numbers of imperial subjects who advanced under
the lash. More specifically, the Western idea that soldiers themselves
decide where, how, and against whom they will fight was contrasted
against the Eastern notion of despotism and monarchy — freedom proving
the stronger idea as the more courageous fighting of the Greeks at
Thermopylae, and their later victories at Salamis and Plataea
attested." </blockquote>
Although wildly exaggerated and filled with
wholly fictionalized characterizations, Frank Miller's graphic novel,
"300,"and the movie it inspired, stylishly capture the root elements
that really differentiated Sparta from all other Greek city-states.
Indeed, attributes that held Sparta up to all the ancient and modern
worlds as the finest soldiers.<br />
<br />
Therefore, submitted for your approval...<br />
<br />
1. Determine the most appropriate brand-positioning attribute.<br />
<blockquote>
Sparta practiced eugenics. That meant all newborns had to
measure up to very high brand standards. Elders judged each infant for
potential military fitness. If a baby was "puny or deformed", then he
was thrown into a chasm, discarded. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
At age seven, Spartan males began military training called the Agoge,
which was a very refined system to build discipline and physical
toughness, and to reinforce loyalty to the Spartan state. Graduation
into the Spartan army came at age eighteen – assuming the student
survived – and by then the males were so motivated by "honor and glory",
they saw battle as their duty. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
This warrior
code was at the heart of Spartan society (see additional commentary on
Spartan women below). Honor and glory were core values – essential
attributes for Spartans. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>Sparta – Prepared for Glory! </i></blockquote>
2. Devise a distinctive way to articulate the brand position.<br />
<blockquote>
The Spartan shield was hugely symbolic. In the Spartan phalanx,
the shield not only protected the individual soldier but the also the
man to his left. It was part of the every soldier's subordination to his
unit, his critical component to its victory, and his solemn
responsibility to his fellow Spartans. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8faPUG3rFdZb6LftjcNdQbxN0DWK0Zp01ReCsNF-QBLlnQWaQb0Pcrt-0iNjCVAoTzF7Ufyu4OAklQwqDHwLzsC_IKd3GGJfj9qTwQPF5OUqLnBvN3OkkI9yQT43HETk9cX1Wuquxxs/s1600/Spartan_phalanx_B.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8faPUG3rFdZb6LftjcNdQbxN0DWK0Zp01ReCsNF-QBLlnQWaQb0Pcrt-0iNjCVAoTzF7Ufyu4OAklQwqDHwLzsC_IKd3GGJfj9qTwQPF5OUqLnBvN3OkkI9yQT43HETk9cX1Wuquxxs/s320/Spartan_phalanx_B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
To
return from battle without his shield was shameful, and assumed it was
flung at the enemy while running away –– an act punishable by death or
banishment. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
So when a Spartan man went to war,
his wife would present him with his shield and say: "With this, or upon
this," meaning that true Spartans could only return to Sparta either
victorious with their shield in hand or dead, being carried upon it. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>With this shield, or upon it. </i></blockquote>
3. Develop a focused brand personality that customers can use to recommend or introduce your company to others<br />
<blockquote>
<i>Sparta – it’s about victory or death.</i> </blockquote>
4. Establish graphic standards.<br />
<blockquote>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVXS55Xc7zX9jSR_aHkx_gJGqAr5cVSo00VGTTBbM7_2NQMNewNScucZ39Ix0IT3vgcTvY_sp_-eAcaKiIGv5IrkyUeqVxmBudDmYq4AcujKXmGFU8TqU5lF6IsQRXqMItppm-UOyN-0/s1600/SpartanShield.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVXS55Xc7zX9jSR_aHkx_gJGqAr5cVSo00VGTTBbM7_2NQMNewNScucZ39Ix0IT3vgcTvY_sp_-eAcaKiIGv5IrkyUeqVxmBudDmYq4AcujKXmGFU8TqU5lF6IsQRXqMItppm-UOyN-0/s200/SpartanShield.jpg" width="200" /></a>Here
again the Spartan shield comes into play. Yes, we often see images of
the hoplite helmet associated with Sparta, but the true symbol of a
Spartan soldier was his shield. And typically on the shield was the
Greek letter for L. This meant Laconia, the region of Greece where
Sparta was founded. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Any opposing force
instantly knew with whom they were about to tangle when they saw the
familiar, and feared, Laconic symbol on the shield before them. </blockquote>
5. Implement internal branding programs to reward employees for behaving in ways that are consistent with the brand personality<br />
<blockquote>
Even mothers enforced the warrior code. Legend has it that a
Spartan warrior ran from battle and back to his mother. While he
expected protection from her, she reacted to the contrary. She did not
protect him from public shame and, along with some of her friends,
chased him while beating with sticks. He was then forced to run up and
down the hills of Sparta yelling his cowardliness and inferiority. </blockquote>
6. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
<blockquote>
Eventually Sparta emerged as the dominant power over several
key Greek states, including Athens and her navy. Not long after
Thermopylae, Sparta surpassed the Athenian Empire and had invaded the
Persian provinces in what is today Turkey and all around the Black
Sea. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Eventually there were revolts and
Sparta’s “empire” began to recede. Still, it continued as a regional
power for over two centuries. Consider that neither Philip II nor his
son Alexander the Great ever tried to conquer Sparta itself. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
In
terms of living the brand, check this out: Philip II sent Sparta this
threat, "If I enter Laconia, I will raze Sparta." The Spartan reply was,
"<i>If</i>."</blockquote>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A little something about Spartan women. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
No discussion about Sparta is complete without at least some mention of
Spartan women. Nowhere else in the classical world did women sustain
such considerable rights and equality to men than in Sparta. Girls were
educated in a fairly extensive formal system somewhat similar to that of
the boys, but with less emphasis on military training. This was so
unique in classical Greece and most other ancient societies. Women
simply did not receive any kind of formal education.<br />
<br />
But in Sparta, women had status, power, and respect. They managed their
own properties, as well as the properties of male relatives who might be
off with the army. In contrast to Athenian women, should a Spartan
woman become the heiress of her father because she had no living
brothers, she was not required to divorce her current husband in order
to marry her nearest paternal relative.<br />
<br />
Also unlike Athenian women, who wore heavy and concealing clothes,
Spartan women wore short dresses. They were free to roam about as they
pleased whereas Athenian women were rarely seen.<br />
<br />
You could say that Spartan women were central to living the Spartan
brand, and the source of Sparta’s strong internal branding strategy. The
proof is in Plutarch's <i>Moralia</i>, which contains a collection of
"Sayings of Spartan Women." Most notable is a quote attributed to Gorgo,
wife of King Leonidas I (one of the 300). When asked why Spartan women
were the only women in the world who could rule men, Gorgo replied
"Because we are the only women who are mothers of men.”</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-4800482368125447652012-12-07T03:41:00.002-08:002012-12-07T03:41:08.634-08:00Teamwork<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
</h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
History is made up of many noted individuals, both good and bad. Yet a
common thread is that behind each one of them was a team united in cause
and vision. Below are ancient and modern examples of team
brands. Teamwork is defined differently depending on who is writing the
definition. But no matter how you slice it, most agree it includes
communication, coordination, effort, and most importantly—cohesion.
Without some sort of binder, the individual ingredients are free
radicals, to use a chemical term. Yet as any former or serving military
will tell you, once a bond is set ... the team is not only tight and
effective—it's lethal.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-86759180558665690072012-12-07T03:40:00.003-08:002012-12-07T03:40:36.783-08:00The Silver Bullet Myth <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3655959116461286350" itemprop="description articleBody">
The Silver Bullet—everybody tries to fire off that single thing,
whatever that thing may be, to solve a problem or challenge. That’s a
heavy burden for one thing.<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In marketing, there's a lot of jumping on bandwagons. Social media, for
instance, or quick response (QR) codes for another, these are things
people will hipshot react to and demand from marketing teams without
first considering if they are even applicable to the audience, or how to
incorporate them into the marketing mix, or establishing success
metrics. <br />
<br />
"We have to have it!" is simply and often the battle cry. Those are
great tools to have in the arsenal, but to be frank, there is NO silver
bullet. That’s why the <i>Lone Ranger</i> carried two six guns. Six
shots are better than one, and twelve are better than six. Rarely can
one single thing solve your marketing issues, except maybe deliberate
planning. <br />
<br />
So when the next big trend or fad hits, sit back, think a second and
cogitate on whether or not it fits into your marketing mix; and how. If
you don’t have a mix, get one, because a lack of foresight is like
firing blanks when the Indians charge.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-64931485102725899592012-12-07T03:40:00.000-08:002012-12-07T03:40:05.507-08:00Baseball and the Rosetta Stone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ytlvviqG8ICgHkKUmmzHAEusG8ESc8Z3r4sFptybh5LD9l45q9Z5vhpLv7052TqRuYXcrTxJu_DLbhGrmgvA0A34fqIdTEPjtUDOLDsdA7ouQou3oF65odLaJxBcNYKgWEJDK5aXDnU/s1600/unroseatta.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ytlvviqG8ICgHkKUmmzHAEusG8ESc8Z3r4sFptybh5LD9l45q9Z5vhpLv7052TqRuYXcrTxJu_DLbhGrmgvA0A34fqIdTEPjtUDOLDsdA7ouQou3oF65odLaJxBcNYKgWEJDK5aXDnU/s200/unroseatta.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
What in Babe Ruth’s name does baseball have to do with an ancient stone
bearing Egyptian and Greek text? A lot. A few years ago I coached a
little league team—T-ball. During a game, my team was fielding and there
were two outs with a runner on first. My first baseman fielded a hit
right to him and he was only steps away from fist base. I hollered, “Tag
the bag!” He proceeded to sprint after the runner heading to second,
and who outran him, making it to second, while the batter also made it
to first. <br />
<br />
When I said, “bag”, my players had no idea I meant base. They were new
to the game and didn’t have the slang down. From that day on, I made
sure to define my terms—in baseball and in marketing. <br />
<br />
That’s the relevance. The Rosetta stone allowed scholars to understand
ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs because they already knew ancient Greek.
Similarly, agency-speak and corporate speak do not always align. And if
there is one thing you learn, it’s to make sure you and your client are
working from the same dictionary. You may think it doesn’t matter, but
it can mean the difference between your team winning a shutout or
suffering an epic slaughter.
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-90787782947519936282012-12-07T03:39:00.004-08:002012-12-07T03:39:42.073-08:00Michelangelo's Sculpting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It might well be considered sacrilege in the art world to mention the
Renaissance icon, Michelangelo, in the same sentence with something like
"branding." Uttered with disdain from every connoisseur and art
historian one might hear the words, "Excuse me?" But in history are
great tips for marketing and the art of branding. In fact the branding
process is very much like sculpting if you approach it as Michelangelo
did. And his words say it best.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the
sculptor to discover it. [And the] Carving is easy, you just go down to
the skin and stop.</i></blockquote>
The wisdom is clear. The process flicks away the unnecessary bits to
find the natural attributes to a brand. And it is the marketer’s job to
identify them, not make them up, but discover them and know when he has
what the brand itself needs. From there you polish and smooth out the
contours and the edges, giving the brand a form that follows its needed
function that will resonate with the audience.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-62345547053999526812012-12-07T03:39:00.001-08:002012-12-07T03:39:17.376-08:00Top Gun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-8AwpyErhbRZuks4zYLatEjMDtove7-B2vafMH9B03GdQ-6NUwi4LjDbwKFqo425YKJG19Z41Z73_ZcdfgsCNgraUjbGR7VTFugh6GmplEn30M4QIZPmNIGEbGQaMjo-sW_F3B4Qt_E/s1600/421px-Mvrredbaron.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-8AwpyErhbRZuks4zYLatEjMDtove7-B2vafMH9B03GdQ-6NUwi4LjDbwKFqo425YKJG19Z41Z73_ZcdfgsCNgraUjbGR7VTFugh6GmplEn30M4QIZPmNIGEbGQaMjo-sW_F3B4Qt_E/s320/421px-Mvrredbaron.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
The Baron Manfred von Richthofen is the owner of the most enduring brand
from the First World War—he was, and in history he will always be, <i>The Red Baron</i>.
Controversy still swarms over who was responsible for shooting down the
great Red Baron. But other than Snoopy, who really cares? Every warrior
must eventually fall.<br />
<br />
Richthofen's mark on history was the fact that he alone racked up 80 air
combat wins during the war in less than three years. Twenty victories
was nothing to scoff at and insured pilots their legendary status, along
with the coveted Pour Le Mérite (the famous "Blue Max"). Richthofen had
four times that and is still universally regarded as the "Ace of Aces."<br />
<br />
The Baron regularly took British, French, and American air corps pilots
to clinic. His prowess in the air made him a German hero during World
War I and a twentieth century legend. His own people called him "der
rote Kampfflieger" (The Red Battle-Flyer), The French called him "le
petit rouge," and he is known in the English-speaking world as The Red
Baron. And before you start yawning, thinking of Tom Cruise in an F-14
screaming at mach 2 with his hair on fire, let's put this in context.<br />
<br />
WWI aviators were at the leading edge of air combat, flying in machines
that were barely more than box kites with engines, and machine guns
mounted as an afterthought. Planes were constructed mostly of wooden
frames covered in canvas or lightweight fabric. No armor protecting the
cockpit. No radio. No parachutes. Nada.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynSM4MeLOF1Ox2xvamniNOMA8wWRdpQ3iMU2-hTQXnFfzKJLzoKAGR9A5iCL4ZTvKouLNstVJn9g8QkW3I5thtpOl0h9MfjSOCofGvr3JqhyqhCsglGiCAJB6-KSq7Kc95jSjAEP_y_w/s1600/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-2004-0430-501%252C_Jagdstaffel_11%252C_Manfred_v._Richthofen.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynSM4MeLOF1Ox2xvamniNOMA8wWRdpQ3iMU2-hTQXnFfzKJLzoKAGR9A5iCL4ZTvKouLNstVJn9g8QkW3I5thtpOl0h9MfjSOCofGvr3JqhyqhCsglGiCAJB6-KSq7Kc95jSjAEP_y_w/s320/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-2004-0430-501%252C_Jagdstaffel_11%252C_Manfred_v._Richthofen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Baron's Squadron - Richthofen is in the cockpit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Those who became pilots in any military were extraordinary men. They had
to be. And Richthofen was no exception. He was a man of courage and
honor who seemed not to view opponents as vermin or faceless machines.
He saw them as men and, like knights of old, were engaged in an aerial
joust. His autobiography shows both his regard for the enemy and
determination as a pilot. He once wrote of a fallen adversary,
"...an honorable death at the hands of a 'worthy' opponent..."
Richthofen once even placed a stone marker at the site of an opposing
pilot's death.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Perhaps his nobleman's regard came from his heritage. Richthofen was the
son of Major Albrecht von Richthofen, a Prussian aristocrat, and his
wife, Kunigunde. Now here is an interesting brand attribute—one
Richthofen shares with many great people of history. Family names of
historical significants often have a relative meaning to the name
holder's position in history. Richthofen is no different because the
name means "court of judgement." And it was bestowed by the Holy Roman
Emperor Leopold I in the late 17th century. More than 80 pilots met the
judgement of the Baron, and few survived.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Young Richthofen was born on May 2, 1892 in what was then Breslau,
Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland). He was the eldest of three sons and
second eldest to his sister, Ilse. To follow in his father's footsteps,
he attended military school at Wahlstatt, and then attended the Royal
Military Academy at Lichterfelde. Admittedly a better athlete than
student, Richthofen revealed in his autobiography a notion that he only
performed adequately in academics, believing that was all that was
necessary for the task.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Ultimately he became a cavalry officer and was commissioned in 1911,
quickly rising to lieutenant in 1912. This brings up a side note.
Eventually Richthofen would carry the rank of Rittmeister Baron Manfred
von Richthofen. Roughly translated, Rittmeister means Calvary Master—and
the rank would be a last vestige of old world warfare.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarZ9IJFef3Q9HsXciSISm_MdgGp8FP9dPHCpk79PscW8Y58WQ_Zty17Hm7feUAnRGVGOH6sPN9Z4E3OW0ahR-NbQcmeZ6oWceu7bMaL8NgU37HTeJF0yp5q74-kAXJjoH1Ic_j0R5M6E/s1600/Red-Baron-Painting.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarZ9IJFef3Q9HsXciSISm_MdgGp8FP9dPHCpk79PscW8Y58WQ_Zty17Hm7feUAnRGVGOH6sPN9Z4E3OW0ahR-NbQcmeZ6oWceu7bMaL8NgU37HTeJF0yp5q74-kAXJjoH1Ic_j0R5M6E/s320/Red-Baron-Painting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Propaganda painting of Richthofen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ever forward-looking, Richthofen was no fool and saw that twentieth
century warfare would gallop past the need for a mounted cavalry. The
machine gun led to trench warfare, a place Richthofen knew was not for
him. So he went maverick by looking to the new air service in 1915. And
it led to his meeting a future mentor—Oswald Boelcke, who would remain
Richthofen's hero and idol, and deservedly so. Before his death, Boelcke
chalked up 40 kills of his own and literally wrote the book on aerial
combat. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Richthofen was a natural, qualifying for his solo flight after only 24
hours of training. That was in October of 1915. Over the course of the
next two and a half years, he would become the scourge of the air for
any allied pilot unlucky enough to encounter him.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Things came to a head in April 1917, known at the time as "Bloody
April." Following months of rain and cold, the weather allowed pilots
from both sides to get in the air and start hunting. The German air
corps tore the allies apart. Richthofen, himself, shot down 21 enemy
aircraft and brought his total up to 52. He had finally broken Boelcke's
record of 40 victories, and making Richthofen the new master of the
skies.<br />
<br />
As a hero, postcards were printed with his image. Heroic stories were
spread everywhere. But what sealed the brand awareness for Richthofen
was an idea on a spring day in Germany.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<blockquote>
"One day, for no particular reason, I got the idea to paint my crate
glaring red. After that, absolutely everyone knew my red bird. In fact,
even my opponents were not completely unaware."—<i>Manfred von Richthofen</i></blockquote>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Therefore, submitted for your approval...</div>
</div>
</div>
1. Determine the most appropriate brand-positioning attribute.<br />
<blockquote>
Richthofen was a singularly determined man. While he even thought of
himself as somewhat arrogant, that may have been unfair. He flew with
one premise that defined the man: "He must fall!" was the ultimate
result of any encounter with opponents. He considered it the only
acceptable outcome.</blockquote>
2. Devise a distinctive way to articulate the brand position.<br />
<blockquote>
At the time of WWI dogfighting, advancements in aeronautical engineering
were moving quickly. Any small advantage might mean the difference in
battle, but not against the Baron. If it had wings, you were already at a
disadvantage. Skill, nerve, persistence, and an understanding of aerial
tactics won battles—men, not the machines were the victorious.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
This quote has been attributed to Richthofen, though I haven't confirmed
it. Still, it fits Richthofen to a "T" and serves as a concise
articulation of Richthofen's brand position: </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>"It's not the kite, it's the man flying the kite."</i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Note: WWI aircraft were often referred to as kites, or even crates because of the flimsy construction)</span></blockquote>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumHKaZWH3eoohT-4ojhhBCz7SgTAwgxlm0ZqBpoC6PD8BJpwYrrmF4VCI8s5FznMfd0iPGgSfh7J1kLnzoY1qCrLDOXtX4GsNcxIpOOxBDmoZcksZv4TKTWwDC5OdgYFcpnGQQ7lDsd8/s1600/Thebaron.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumHKaZWH3eoohT-4ojhhBCz7SgTAwgxlm0ZqBpoC6PD8BJpwYrrmF4VCI8s5FznMfd0iPGgSfh7J1kLnzoY1qCrLDOXtX4GsNcxIpOOxBDmoZcksZv4TKTWwDC5OdgYFcpnGQQ7lDsd8/s1600/Thebaron.jpg" /></a>3. Develop a focused brand personality that customers can use to recommend or introduce your company to others.<br />
<blockquote>
<i>The Red Baron</i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
Few brands really get the perfect storm. Richthofen indeed was a baron.
And the red color was born from the nose art of his mentor's plane.
Amazingly, Richthofen understated the affect of red on his enemies.
Certainly the bright red plane made an attractive target. Perhaps the
color even served as bait. But it quickly became part of the Baron's
persona, especially when the plane and pilot kept downing enemy
aircraft. So the bright red plane emoted both respect and fear.</blockquote>
4. Establish graphic standards.<br />
<blockquote>
Part One - <i>Big </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>RED</i></span>: Though several other pilots had painted different sections of their planes special colors, Richthofen</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
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<blockquote>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kJIAJR1FQTr17kalEQiLPQCGT8csabxx_stmWfTCplQKossU0q1tr0Z5xqtBI4LTWWP-rfFDvXoUGwSNt_5SVqaw_iExI74qDrtIo4GwVMlKvPKk2stTwBPvO_aFYeFAjKZ0oOLcC4E/s1600/redbaron.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kJIAJR1FQTr17kalEQiLPQCGT8csabxx_stmWfTCplQKossU0q1tr0Z5xqtBI4LTWWP-rfFDvXoUGwSNt_5SVqaw_iExI74qDrtIo4GwVMlKvPKk2stTwBPvO_aFYeFAjKZ0oOLcC4E/s320/redbaron.jpg" width="320" /></a>noticed
that it was difficult to see these during battle. To get noticed, and
think about that, to ... get ... noticed, from the ground and from the
air, Richthofen decided to paint his entire plane bright red.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
No one from either side had yet been so ostentatious.</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<blockquote>
Part Two: <i>Meet the Fokker</i> (Dr. I)! The Red Baron actually flew
other aircraft as his victories mounted up. He's just best known for
flying the bright red version of the Fokker Dr I—a trademark triplane
for Richthofen and WWI. The three wings gave the airship an amazing lift
capacity and unprecedented maneuverability. It's said that Richthofen
actually maneuvered the plane to fly momentarily backwards in order to
shoot at pursuing enemy planes.</blockquote>
</div>
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
<blockquote>
The enemy created nicknames for Richthofen: Le Petit Rouge, the Red
Devil, the Red Falcon, Le Diable Rouge, the Jolly Red Baron, the Bloody
Baron, and the Red Baron. However, the Germans never called Richthofen
the Red Baron; instead, they called him der röte Kampfflieger ("The Red
Battle Flier").</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Still, everyone knew of the moniker. And with earned his reputation for
aerial skill, he led his squadron and Germany to continued victories
until Richthofen's demise. </blockquote>
<br />
The Red Baron was shot down Vaux sur Somme, France on April 21, 1918. He was <u>25-years old</u>.</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-70202000264096945982012-12-07T03:38:00.003-08:002012-12-07T03:38:22.526-08:00George Washington<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mGrw_7GLRLu2BSOdP8NTUVOEOwNENeGINlL9s_nC9LMa13LwoqysZ_NeAa5yQhWF3K1c4858PFJKguQ54O6FFwI33MsG58AVEjidnHiIT_w2FF-tNPQJggma0QOpvX_zJzH6-6N389Q/s1600/220px-Gilbert_Stuart_Williamstown_Portrait_of_George_Washington.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mGrw_7GLRLu2BSOdP8NTUVOEOwNENeGINlL9s_nC9LMa13LwoqysZ_NeAa5yQhWF3K1c4858PFJKguQ54O6FFwI33MsG58AVEjidnHiIT_w2FF-tNPQJggma0QOpvX_zJzH6-6N389Q/s200/220px-Gilbert_Stuart_Williamstown_Portrait_of_George_Washington.jpg" width="170" /></a>There
can be only one—one first, and George Washington is that one, that
first for our country. There is no better start to our discovery of him
than the following words by Congressman Henry "Light-Horse-Harry" Lee, a
contemporary of our first elected president.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"First in war—first in peace—and first in the hearts of his
countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and enduring scenes of
private life; pious, just, humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform,
dignified, and commanding, his example was as edifying to all around him
as were the effects of that example lasting. To his equals he was
condescending, to his inferiors kind, and to the dear object of his
affections exemplarily tender; correct throughout, vice shuddered in his
presence, and virtue always felt his fostering hand; the purity of his
private character gave effulgence to his public virtues. His last scene
comported with the whole tenor of his life—although in extreme pain, not
a sigh, not a groan escaped him; and with undisturbed serenity he
closed his well-spent life. Such was the man America has lost—such was
the man for whom our nation mourns."</i></blockquote>
By comparison, the following composition is wholly inadequate. Lee's
eulogy so beautifully and completely captures the spirit of Washington
that, really, it is highly recommended readers conduct their own
research, just to further and better know George Washington, but also personally ratify Lee's prose.<br />
<br />
That said...<br />
<br />
George Washington was born in the New World—in Virginia to be specific.
So he wasn't a British transplant, though his father was. Now here's an
interesting tidbit: Washington's father passed when he was only 11. And
the interesting part is that it kept Washington from being sent to
England for a formal instruction, resulting in his having achieved only
an elementary equivalent education. But that didn't make him stupid. On
the contrary, Washington was both intelligent and intuitive, and would
go on to demonstrate that throughout his military assignments as a young
man.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOn4AoPPBq9wpAb4xrovxE54ySa-bRPcIAuuzWzVhgY3jDqkcl-96FbPFiaLOtNfM4Xfmzl_9gZTdQlyk6QAduISwwW77NSSPO5tXazIKkYErVl2euWgNcJgZdG7_YRzOAVNa4RByJ0bc/s1600/YIVBF00Z.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOn4AoPPBq9wpAb4xrovxE54ySa-bRPcIAuuzWzVhgY3jDqkcl-96FbPFiaLOtNfM4Xfmzl_9gZTdQlyk6QAduISwwW77NSSPO5tXazIKkYErVl2euWgNcJgZdG7_YRzOAVNa4RByJ0bc/s320/YIVBF00Z.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington leads the Pennsylvania expedition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was during the Seven Years War,
of which the Colonial American part was also known as the French and
Indian War, that Washington really began his education and found in
uniform a comfortable skin. Throughout the conflict, he had successes
and failures, but from each he learned more about strategy, logistics,
command style, British methodology, and how geography impacts battle
plans. He gained a high reputation from fellow commanders as courageous
and, perhaps more importantly, regard from the men in his commands.<br />
<br />
But it was almost 20-years later, during that brutal winter at Valley
Forge, with heavy losses to disease, cold, and hunger, that Washington
fired up his "BA" reputation as a Revolutionary general. His position
was simple, taking a page from the ancient Roman playbook, that "the
victor is not victorious if the vanquished does not consider himself
so." Facing superior forces in every way, Washington pushed his men. His
toughness on troops and emphasis on training were never looked down
upon by his forces. Indeed, he was respected for them—and credited by
historians as the reasons for the survival of Colonial forces at Valley
Forge—and on to victory when the Red Coats thought they had the
Rebels by the military throat.<br />
<br />
And then there was Yorktown—and the British surrender. Washington would
soon become the first elected president of the new United States of
America. And he understood politics. Washington hated the idea of
political parties, believing they undermined republicanism. He also
tended to side with the counsel of Alexander Hamilton, who was the root
of the Federalist Party and the idea of a fiscally strong and
nationalistic government. Agree or not, it helped strengthen the budding
U.S. during a vulnerable time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4B5KNvynb_nzdAmzi3kzaGvy2C3tnly8_j6uU_f7rglTzPgrgJwbP9whIPKHQvSfmjWp7jZC7N5Byy2iyHQMTrHU1VDggavePwAqRd46BudyPu8MTFeB1WLi-MaH26lTOXqHLPkfhok/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4B5KNvynb_nzdAmzi3kzaGvy2C3tnly8_j6uU_f7rglTzPgrgJwbP9whIPKHQvSfmjWp7jZC7N5Byy2iyHQMTrHU1VDggavePwAqRd46BudyPu8MTFeB1WLi-MaH26lTOXqHLPkfhok/s200/Unknown.jpeg" width="176" /></a></div>
George Washington set the standard. It is by his example that all
successive presidents are judged. His leadership style established many
forms and rituals since used by our government, including an
advisory cabinet, delivering an inaugural address, even serving only two
terms. Most important, however, he led the first successful revolution
against a colonial empire in world history. He is an icon of liberty and
independence.<br />
<br />
Therefore, submitted for your approval on this 223 anniversary of
Washington's first oath of office for President of the United States...<br />
<br />
1. Determine the most appropriate brand-positioning attribute.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
George Washington led the Continental Army throughout it's difficult
times, through hardships unknown to most of us today, to defeat superior
forces, with superior supplies, and superior training and experience.
His courage was an inspiration to his men; his perseverance was an
inspiration to Congress, and his moral compass an inspiration to the
world. On his shoulders stands a nation sired by his conviction.</blockquote>
<div>
2. Devise a distinctive way to articulate the brand position.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
How Americans referred to Washington as early as 1778 would become his
positioning tagline. He set so many precedents for our nation's
government, and the office of the presidency in particular, and only
after his military leadership to Revolutionary victory. He is...</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The Father of His Country</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
4. Establish graphic standards. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzD_GAUjaojklrB1fXig74esWmCZObyruKk2Lyq9RMSBU9SnHlhJ6mSOTO6-npIpO8inr8qan9a4L2Hs4kZI9aVqdMcoVDOQ1HdHnTJYm-ksgPCLXPAmSBL4d-9vwrp5AXxWU5TzRzY-g/s1600/illus0389.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzD_GAUjaojklrB1fXig74esWmCZObyruKk2Lyq9RMSBU9SnHlhJ6mSOTO6-npIpO8inr8qan9a4L2Hs4kZI9aVqdMcoVDOQ1HdHnTJYm-ksgPCLXPAmSBL4d-9vwrp5AXxWU5TzRzY-g/s320/illus0389.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
Representations of Washington abound. They did in his time as now. Pick
one. There are depictions of Washington as a warrior, a statesman, a
gentlemen farmer, and even one sculpture renders him as Zeus. But if
there is one image of Washington that absolutely stands out, it is
Washington crossing the Potomac. This captures all that Washington
was—the man standing tall and courageous in the face of adverse weather,
against a superior enemy, providing the statuesque pose of the leader,
not just of an army, but of the nation to come. That is Washington.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Washington was keenly aware that everything he did set a precedent, so
he was careful to give appropriate but not too much pomp and ceremony of
office. He wanted to differentiate his office from European royalty and
courts, making sure that the titles and trappings of the presidency
were suitably republican. To that end, he preferred the title "Mr.
President" to other, more majestic names suggested</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When he left office, he stressed the necessity and importance of
national union, the value of the Constitution and the rule of law, and
the evils of political parties. Interestingly, Washington also
recommended morality as a crucial thread of popular government. In his
farewell address he said, </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds
of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect
that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."
Perhaps, in short, he was saying, "in God we trust." </blockquote>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-80942962431319893572012-12-07T03:37:00.003-08:002012-12-07T03:37:33.537-08:00 Red Tails<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
There is no way around the fact that black Americans have had it tough.
No way around segregation, discrimination, and the overall boot of
oppression suffered before the days of the Civil Rights movement.
There's no sugar coating it. But this group of extraordinary and
determined men showed the promise of a nation by demanding to fight for
her. And fight they did—doing so from the bottom up just to get an
opportunity to train. Prior to the formation of the Tuskegee Airmen, no black American had become a U.S. military pilot or member of an air crew.</div>
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UmsbVq7-Tf_k1pnCkotZ0i5Hi4eWrkGysVVOPWJqxJxFfPyRi4wZS6WGzq9DSXaLA_ha73hHQfFDnpZNbnr7blMOnhBqLZkSHY0ulitIfnYvXNYMqtO0-F8mmgcw0Xk4zsAix4xCUiM/s1600/800px-Tuskegee_airmen.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UmsbVq7-Tf_k1pnCkotZ0i5Hi4eWrkGysVVOPWJqxJxFfPyRi4wZS6WGzq9DSXaLA_ha73hHQfFDnpZNbnr7blMOnhBqLZkSHY0ulitIfnYvXNYMqtO0-F8mmgcw0Xk4zsAix4xCUiM/s200/800px-Tuskegee_airmen.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The Tuskegee program officially began in June 1941 at the Tuskegee Army
Air Field—hence the nickname, Tuskegee Airmen. The original unit
consisted of about 47 officers and 429 enlisted men, filling the initial
plan for 500 personnel. That grew significantly by mid 1942 with nearly
3000 personnel stationed at Tuskegee. Launching the program itself was a
major victory, but a host of obstacles remained, including local
prejudice, internal military discrimination, and overall bad perception.</div>
<div>
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</div>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqL9wTohsWSIJC8hq0YtXTS5w7ciuGQPSxic-eu7eBdJmJAZlN2wt_flHP1hJUQr1c27VtTxJt9BzrvvJrdC3zIS5NO6XdJTVDz7bINp_TXUoFFOob95SiSN0Vh3NbBMRKrjib_zSSbk/s1600/433px-Tuskegee_airman_poster.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqL9wTohsWSIJC8hq0YtXTS5w7ciuGQPSxic-eu7eBdJmJAZlN2wt_flHP1hJUQr1c27VtTxJt9BzrvvJrdC3zIS5NO6XdJTVDz7bINp_TXUoFFOob95SiSN0Vh3NbBMRKrjib_zSSbk/s200/433px-Tuskegee_airman_poster.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>
Finally, the US military command agreed to deploy the Tuskegee Airmen
into combat. This was somewhat under political pressure and somewhat
because the Tuskegee Airmen wouldn't wash out—having performed admirably
in training. So the Red Tails went to war in July 1943 with their
initial combat mission over Sicily. Come May 1944, the 332nd Fighter
Group began escorting heavy strategic bombing raids into Czechoslovakia,
Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Germany. This is where the Red Tails
really found something to crow about.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Of the hundreds of escort missions flown, The Tuskegee fighter pilots
lost only 25* bombers to enemy fire, earning high praise and a
reputation as fierce aces. In deed, crews soon requested the Red Tails
as escorts, realizing that the only color that mattered on a hairy
mission was Red. It is their legacy that helped end segregation in the
US military, which also paved the way for desegregation in civilian
America. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Therefore, submitted for your approval...</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
1. Determine the most appropriate brand-positioning attribute.</div>
<blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Although many of the Tuskegee Airmen were highly educated and many had
flown as civilians prior to military service, they had to work harder to
prove themselves to their own air corps. That type of determination,
to triumph over adversity, made these men formidable opponents for the
arrogant Luftwaffe pilots.</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>Triumph over adversity</i></blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
2. Devise a distinctive way to articulate the brand position.</div>
<blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
To triumph, the Tuskegee Airmen rose above prejudice from their own
country, above hardships and obstacles thrown at them by their command,
and above any doubts in themselves that they may have had.</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i>"Rise Above."</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
3. Develop a focused brand personality that customers can use to recommend or introduce your company to others.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Immediately on deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, the Tuskegee Airmen
distinguished themselves in combat. They excelled at bomber escort duty
and quickly became personified, not as black airmen, but as superior
fighter pilots identified by the Red on the tails of their aircraft.</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i>The Red Tails</i></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
4. Establish graphic standards.</div>
<blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MlUPR7KWroRzQBExOfrX1MvlNl6dkyzZQ_0OTcEr_LRbMVjsY8P-FxOMaFzzfi95_YtAJ7AP837OWorZ46cr2PEw_Sz8XtNBW5AUStaIxLEa152W1sHZYSGSIvuknJJYoJmVtwYx6CA/s1600/P-51C-18A.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MlUPR7KWroRzQBExOfrX1MvlNl6dkyzZQ_0OTcEr_LRbMVjsY8P-FxOMaFzzfi95_YtAJ7AP837OWorZ46cr2PEw_Sz8XtNBW5AUStaIxLEa152W1sHZYSGSIvuknJJYoJmVtwYx6CA/s320/P-51C-18A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Part One - <i> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>RED Tails</i></span>:
Red is not an uncommon color on many aircraft. And while there is no
official story about why the Tuskegee Airmen chose red, maybe they took a
cue from the Red Baron. It was slightly audacious in order to
get noticed, from the ground and from the air, and nothing does that
quite like bright red.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Part Two: <i>P-51 Mustang:</i> Not unlike the Red Baron who actually
flew various aircraft but was best known for a bright red version of a
triplane in WWI, the Tuskegee Airmen also flew several kinds of
airplanes, but became identified with the P51 Mustang. </div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
5. Consistently and uniquely execute the branding program.</div>
<blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
There were six tenants to the <i>Rise Above</i> slogan of the Red Tails:</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Aim High</li>
<li>Believe in yourself</li>
<li>Use your brain </li>
<li>Never quit </li>
<li>Be ready to go </li>
<li>Expect to win</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
If the proof is in the pudding, then the Red Tails absolutely lived their brand... </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Approximately 445 Tuskegee Airmen were deployed overseas, and 150 Airmen
lost their lives. The blood cost included sixty-six pilots killed in
action or accidents, and thirty-two fallen into captivity as prisoners
of war. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M_lj2HhKzPs5ad_IfEgJtkq9v0MRF2gPItsgxDT3eN-2E70wAGPCZg6tVpeykZsMLnHGqQmiDNwOuQIsvmbV9oyU-S1xy0zzwM-0Q9QfkgGQWuc1vFstWCv9mg8dEzogRjvLiokGXD8/s1600/570px-Tuskegee_airmen_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M_lj2HhKzPs5ad_IfEgJtkq9v0MRF2gPItsgxDT3eN-2E70wAGPCZg6tVpeykZsMLnHGqQmiDNwOuQIsvmbV9oyU-S1xy0zzwM-0Q9QfkgGQWuc1vFstWCv9mg8dEzogRjvLiokGXD8/s200/570px-Tuskegee_airmen_2.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
The Tuskegee Airmen were credited by higher commands with the following accomplishments: </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>15,533 combat sorties, 1578 missions </li>
<li>One hundred and twelve German aircraft destroyed in the air, another 150 on the ground </li>
<li>Nine hundred and fifty rail cars, trucks and other motor vehicles destroyed </li>
<li>One destroyer sunk by P-47 machine gun fire </li>
<li>A good record of protecting U.S. bombers,losing only 25 on hundreds of missions. </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Awards and decorations awarded for valor and performance included:</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Three Distinguished Unit Citations</li>
<li>99th Pursuit Squadron: 30 May–11 June 1943 for the capture of Pantelleria, Italy</li>
<li>99th Fighter Squadron: 12–14 May 1944: for successful air strikes against Monte Cassino, Italy</li>
<li>332d Fighter Group: 24 March 1945: for the longest bomber escort mission of World War II</li>
<li>At least one Silver Star</li>
<li>An estimated one hundred and fifty Distinguished Flying Crosses</li>
<li>Fourteen Bronze Stars</li>
<li>Seven hundred and forty-four Air Medals</li>
<li>Eight Purple Hearts </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
* NOTE: It was once said that no bomber escorted by the Tuskegee Airmen
had ever been lost to enemy fire. This statement was repeated for many
years, and not challenged because of the esteem of the Tuskegee Airmen,
however, Air Force records and eyewitness accounts later showed that at
least 25 bombers were lost to enemy fire. So what. Other squadrons lost
25 bombers on single missions. The final takeaway is that whether 0 or
25, the Tuskegee Airmen gave up fewer bombers in their care than any
other protecting squadron of fighters. And that's over hundreds of
missions.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-89486566938047717732012-12-07T03:36:00.001-08:002012-12-07T03:36:19.848-08:00The Honor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"The honor is to serve..." That's a Klingon saying. And while from a
fictitious character, it nicely sums up the spirit of the men and women
who serve in our armed forces—and very much those who have sacrificed in
the defense of our nation. The fallen are remembered each Memorial Day,
and on this one, BIH highlights those who've honored this nation by
their service.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815183998136704335.post-8268097964319193222012-12-03T14:06:00.000-08:002012-12-03T14:06:17.673-08:00Home loans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Want a loan to create your new home contact to your nearest registered bank to check their policies and compare the interest ratio with other banks and choose the best one</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2